.
Key: P = positive;
N = negative
TENSE NAME
Present simple
Present continuous
Present continuous
Present perfect (simple)
? question;
subj = subject
EXAMPLE
inf = infinitive
pp = past participle
FORM
She smokes a pack of cigarettes
a day.
He/ She/ It = ‘s’ at the end of the
verb
P subj + inf + (s) / (es)
N subj + don’t/doesn’t + inf
? Do/does + subj + inf
[except for the ‘be’ verb]
Where is John? He’s doing his
homework upstairs.
P subj + am/is/are + __ing
N subj + am/is/are not = __ing
? Am/is/are + subj = __ing
We’re meeting at 9.00am
tomorrow.
P subj + am/is/are + __ing
N subj + am/is/are not = __ing
? Am/is/are + subj = __ing
I’ve taught in Brazil and Japan.
P subj + have/has + pp
N subj + haven’t/hasn’t + pp
? Have/ has + subj + pp
__ing = verb on __ = present participle; s/t = something
MEANING/USE
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
1)
2)
3)
4)
1)
2)
Habits & routines
Permanent situation
Describes a state
Timetabled events (the movie starts at 6)
General facts and truths
In progress at the moment
S/t happening around now
Temporary situation
Changing state or trend
Something already arranged for the future
A personal intention (I’m washing my hair tonight.)
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Life experiences – no specific time
Past action which is important now
Recent news
S/t that started in past & continues to present
A finished action in an unfinished time
Present perfect
continuous
He’s been working for his father
for 5 years.
P subj + have/has + been + __ing
N subj + haven’t/hasn’t + been +
__ing
? Have/has = subj + been + __ing
Past simple
I lived in Australia from 2002
until 2005.
P subj + verb + ed
(or irregular verb ending)
N subj + didn’t + inf
? Did + subj + inf
1) Completed past actions or states (when)
2) Short or long single or repeated actions
3) Sequence of events in the past
P subj + was/were + __ing
N subj + wasn’t/weren’t + __ing
? Was/were + subj + __ing
1) Action in progress at a past time – sometimes
interrupted
2) Often describes the background to a story (main
events are told in past simple)
3) Unfinished actions in the past
P subj + had + pp
N subj + hadn’t + pp
? Had + subj + pp
1) Indicates an action completed before another action
or time in the past
Past continuous
Past perfect (simple)
They were watching TV when
the phone rang.
When I got to the theatre, the
show had started.
TIMELINE
XXXXX
NOW
P
P
Permanent state: I am a woman
F
F
X
NOW
P
F
X
P
NOW
F
P
NOW
F
P
P
NOW F
NOW
Emphasises duration or repetition of an action that started in
the past & continues to the present (often incomplete or just P
finished) & emphasises the temporary nature of same.
Diary
F
XXXXXXXXXXXX
NOW
F
X XXXX
P 2002 ------- 2005
NOW
F
X
phone rang
P
TV
NOW
Show arrive late
X
P
NOW
F
F
Past perfect continuous
Future simple
Future continuous
Future perfect
Future perfect
continuous
Zero conditional
First conditional
I’d been living in China for 3
years when I met her.
I’ll see you tomorrow.
I’ll be working late tonight.
I’ll have left by the time you
arrive.
Next month I’ll have been living
in SA for a year.
If I don’t sleep enough, I get
grouchy.
If it rains, we’ll have the party
indoors.
Second conditional
If I won the lottery, I’d travel
around the world.
Third conditional
If I’d won, I would’ve shared the
prize.
Going to
I am going to travel next year.
P subj + had + been + __ing
N subj + hadn’t + been + __ing
? Had + subj + been + __ing
1) Gives background to main event (past simple)
2) Emphasises duration which continued up to a past
time.
P subj + will + inf
N subj + won’t + inf
? Will + subj + inf
1) An instant decision (offer of help / request/
reassurance / warning)
2) A prediction without evidence
3) Formal announcement of a scheduled future event
4) Express determination
1) Action that will be in progress at a specific future time
2) Action intended for a specific future time (more
formal than ‘going to’)
P subj + will + be + __ing
N subj + won’t + be + __ing
? Will + subj + be + __ing
P subj + will + have + pp
N subj + won’t + have + pp
? Will + subj + have + pp
P subj + will have + been + __ing
N subj + won’t have + been + __ing
? Will + subj + have + been + __ing
If + subj + present tense,
subj + present tense
If + subj + present tense,
subj + future tense
1) Action that will be completed before a specific time in
the future
2003 ----- 2006........
P
China
NOW
P
Instant
Thought
Decision
NOW
P
NOW
P
.
X
NOW
F
F
Jan 2017
F
F
me (left) you (arrive)
1) Emphasises the duration of an action that will still be
in progress at a future time
1 year
P
NOW
Feb 2016
F
General truths and facts that are always true
Future real possibility:
1) Prediction or warning
2) Making Plan B
3) Bargaining, making a deal, threat or promise
If + subj + past, subj + would + base
1) Hypothetical or unreal or imaginary situation in the
infinitive
present or future
The past modals can be used –
2) Dreaming or planning
would, could, might
3) Giving advice (e.g. if I were you, I would invest the
money)
If + subj + had + pp, subj +
1) Past hypothetical situation, with a past result
would/could/might + have + pp
2) Blame
[If + subj + past perfect (had + pp)]
3) Relief
4) Regret
P Subj + am /is /are + going to + inf
1) Intention – planned before time of speaking
N Subj + am not /isn’t /aren’t +
2) Prediction with evidence
going to + inf
? Am / Is/Are + subj + going to + inf
X
P
NOW
. thought
F